Before 2. For encouraging their hope, by inviting them to lay hold on eternal life, through the medium of a gracious salvation. Hear it, and rejoice, ye sons and daughters of Adam: Grace reigns! Her throne is erected on the blood of the atonement; and she proclaims to dying mortals, life and pardon, acceptance, peace, and glory. Her wide commission extends to the most worthless and vile. the tribunal of God, all are guilty: and therefore, before the throne of grace all are on a level. At this throne by which we are introduced to the favor of Jehovah, there is no respect of persons. Grace makes not the smallest difference between the rigid pharisee, and the rapacious publican; between the severe moralist, and the abandoned libertine. If she did, she would cease to be grace. Be persuaded, then, wretched sinners, to come to the living God through Jesus Christ. Every difficulty which guilt and defilement can create, is completely removed: for grace reigns. Say not, "I have sinned too long, and too heinously to be forgiven. I dare not; it would be presumption; to hope for acceptance, with a holy God." The answer to every objection is, Grace reigns! Grace has made ample provision for all your wants. She has provided righteousness for the guilty; purity for the filthy; faith for the unbelieving; repentance for the impenitent; strength for the feeble. The more worthless and impoverished thou art, the fitter subject art thou for the operation of grace. All the mercies of the new covenant, all that Christ purchased, and we can want, she offers without money and without price. While she addresses you in the name of Jesus, listen to her voice, yield to her intreaties. Children of pride, bow the knee to this amiable sovereign! Prisoners of death, touch her friendly sceptre and live! Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. I, says Jesus, I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Lastly. Let us improve our subject for quickening the believer in his way to glory. Is salvation by grace? then let boasting lips be for ever silent. What have we, O Christian, that we have not received? Everything bad in us, is our own: everything good is the gift of divine bounty. And why did the Lord fix his love upon us, when he has passed others in their iniquity? Were we in any respect better than they? Oh no! We all belonged to the same lump of perdition. Sovereignty, adorable sovereignty, made us vessels of honor. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Surely, then, it becomes us to be clothed with humility, and gratefully to own our obligations to that love of God which called us from darkness into his marvelous light. Is the progress of salvation by grace? Why, then, believers, should our hands be weak, or our souls cast down? In every trial, in every danger, our unfailing consolation is, that grace reigns. We are authorized to come boldly to our Father's throne, and to ask at once, with the affection and the confidence of children, for all the benefits which we need. Our Jesus, our brother, has all things at his command. For it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. As the administrator of the new covenant, he is the treasurer of heaven; and he has promised his people to send down his Spirit, to unlock his storehouse, and unlock their hearts, and pour them full of blessings! Is salvation completed by grace? Who, then or what shall hinder the holy warriors that fight under Immanuel's banners, from arriving in triumph at the heavenly Canaan? Did Jesus ransom them by his blood? Did he quicken them by his Spirit? Did he purify them by his grace? Has he given them the pledge of the promised inheritance? And shall they not persevere ? Absurd idea! They shall! Kept by the power of God, they shall go from strength to strength, till every one of them appear before him in Zion. Let us gird up, therefore, the loins of our faith, and run with patience the race set before us! Let us look forward, with exultation, to the blissful period when the mystery of God shall be finished. Then the Redeemer shall complete the temple of mercy which was built on his blood, and reared by his Spirit; and every stone of the sacred pile shall bear the motto of redemption; a motto engraved by the finger of God, and emblazoned by the light of heaven, To the praise of the glory of his grace! |